Findlay Market Tasting

I want to thank everyone that stopped by today at Findlay Market. By the looks on your faces, the new flavors were a big hit. Thanks for all of your support. When I started it as fast approaching the mid 50's and sunny but by 1:15 the grey clouds, wind and falling temps were keeping the gelato cold and me as well. I had great time and enjoyed talking with folks I had not seen in a while. I am very excited about Findlay Market and have many things planned for the new year. My parents store, 110 W. Elder St. will have many more flavors to offer than most so consider Madisons at Findlay for your total flavor fix. I hope to have the website worked on in the next month or so. I still have a couple of new flavors that will be out in March and those are going to be good. More to come on that later. Thanks for your support.
Matt

New Flavors At Last

Today is a great day at the Madisono's production kitchen. I started production on some of the new flavors today. What are they you ask?
Gelato
Burnt Sugar with Star Anise
Sumatran Java
Julia's Favorite Mango is now made with 100% pure Alphonso Mango
Sorbet
Black Raspberry
Alphonso Mango
I have waited 3.5 years to produce Black Raspberry sorbet and now it is happening. Why the wait? I had always tried to work with fresh or frozen berries. The problem is the seeds. There are just to many and that upsets the texture of the finished sorbet. I have finally found a domestic source of Black Raspberry puree that is incredible. When you taste this sorbet it is like eating a bowl of fresh berries. There are so many options for this flavor it makes my head spin.
The Alphonso Mango is just an incredible mango. I always thought that my mango sorbet was good but this new flavor is over the top. The color, aroma and texture of this eats like a perfectly ripe mango. It still holds the name Julia's Favorite Mango.
Burnt sugar is one that I have been looking at for a while and now I am pleased to share it with you. I burn my own sugar in house and have a special process by which it is made into the gelato. I have always liked working with the savory and Star Anise is a great compliment to this dynamic flavor. If you like creme brulee then you will love this new flavor.
How long will it be before you can get these new flavors? Well we are delivering all of them to Findlay Market this Week and many other customers. It may take a little time before everyone has them. There are still some pints of the the previous mango sorbet on the shelves and that will need to be sold before they order the new. All of our independant customers will be adding them over the next few weeks. They will not be available at Bigg's or Whole Foods just yet. We are starting with the independants first. Let us know what you think.
Matt

Cupcakes and Gelato in Downtown

I just returned from a trip downtown. Delivered a few flavors to Via Vite and delivered a new freezer to AbbyGirl Sweets. They are moving from Oakley to Downtown next to the Hilton on 5ht street. There is at least 20 feet of windo display wich is decorated with real cupcakes. They are set to open on Thursday, just in time for the big snow. The exciting news is that Madisono's and AbbyGirl are working together to offer something unique in Cincinnati. The first cupcake shop that serves gelato. We have all had cake and ice cream but cupcakes and gelato is it! They will offer French Vanilla and Chocolate to start and we will add more flavors very soon. The portions will be prescooped on site and put into authentic gelato cups imported from Italy.
The location is just one block away from the Square and is perfect for a quick visit. There are few tables and chairs as well. They will be offering coffee also. We will dilver the first order next week and should be ready to go by 15th.
AbbyGirl is owned by Nathana and Andrea, a husband and wife team and named after thier daughter Abby. Check out their website for more information. I need to say that they make an icing that is like no other. Seriously. You have never had one like this before. Stop in and say hay, get a cupcake and get ready for gelato.
My labels are due in this week and that means new flavors will be coming soon.
Matt

Happy New Year

I am sitting here at the keypad eating Haribo Gummy Bears and counting the days to a new year. This is alway a fun time of the year for me not just because of the holidays, but it is the end of year and that means data!. More data to review and look at. I am a numbers nerd and love looking at the "final" run of sales data, sales by flavor and everything. It is like looking back on a project or paint job that is completed and saying "wow can you believe we did that?" That feeling of accomplishment. Reviewing the numbers is like that for small business owners or for me at least. With January eveything is a clean slate. Everything is fresh.
I wrote earlier about new flavors for the new year and I just finished two more today in the gelato lab. I do wish I could say what they are but I should wait until everything is set. I can tell you that I made an Earl Grey Tea Gelato for Via Vite and will deliver that on Thursday. It is quite good. I was thinking of making some sandwiches using some McVities' Digestives for the cookie part and filling it with the gelato. If you have never had a McVitie digestive I suggest you try them. They are available at Jungle Jims in the England section. The new flavor offerings are going to give you a chance to explore some great new combinations and flavors. I hope you all have a great new year and thank you all for your support of Madisonos
Matt

New Flavors are coming New Flavors are coming!

It is hard to believe that there is one month left in this most memorable year. Good riddens (sp?). Even though this year has been hard for many of my restaurant customers many are optimistic for 2010 and through careful planning have managed to stay in business. This past year I decided not to introduce any new flavors to the mix. Why? I wanted to refine my process from start to finish. I looked at everything and built models that would allow me to focus on the prinicples of Madisono's. Introducing new flavors disrupts that process. Madisono's is moving in a positive direction with respect to ingredients and process. It is my goal to offer the most natural product possible. I am please to say that this years work is paying off. I have some great new flavors that are moving out of the R&D mode and into production very soon.
What are they? Well I can not say right now but I can tell you that they are going to rock your taste buds! Look for them at Findlay Market as that is where I will make their debut.
I also wanted to mention that this year Madisono's will be at the Ballet for the sweet shop on Dec 20th. My friend Jay Kalagayan from The Know Theatre, is now the Director of Development for the Ballet. Congrats Jay. I should also note that in the most recent issue of Express, Jay includes Madisono's and Coffee Emporium as his guilty pleasurs. I will be at the sweet shop serving up all kinds of flavors and should have a sneak peak of some of those new flavors. I hope all of you had a good turkey or tofu day and enjoyed some Madisono's gelato with your meal.
Matt

Spiced Chai for the holidays

Once again I am making the spiced chai gelato. It is a combination of cinnamon, clove and cardamom spices mixed with my cream gelato base. It is a great compliment to any apple dish, pumpkin or coffee. I always feel like warming up with a hot cup of coffee and a scoop of spiced chai gelato regardless of the temperature in my house. There is something about the flavors that is warming. Look for it at College Hill Coffee Company, Whole Foods Mason, and Madison's at Findaly Market.
I also want to let you know about a new place that just opened. It is called Meals to Go. They are located on Winton Road Finneytown, 8592. The telphone number is 521-meal and everything is made from scratch. They focus on family dinners and corporate lunches. Madisono's has a freezer there with 11 flavors so you can get some good food to go and some gelato as well. Thanksgiving us fast approaching and soon the new year. I hope you all have a great holiday and try some cinnamon gelato on your pumpkin pie.
Thanks
Matt

November 9th already!!!

Yikes,
I just sat down to do my blog entry and realized that it was September 25th since my last entry. It is not that we have not been busy at Madisono's. Spice Chai is now available at Madison's at Findlay, Whole Foods and College Hill Coffee Shop. This is a great winter time favorite. I use my own blend of cinnamon, clove and cardamom to create this sweet delivery that actually warms me up. Yes sit down and warm up to an ice cold bowl of spiced chai gelato. I thinnk it has to do with the seasons. I always had hot chai made with milk over the years around the holidays and durring the cold weather. This is that memory in a bowl. Last Thursday I took part in the Dorothy Lane Market Fall Wine show and got to sample out some great flavors for all of the DLM customers. I also had the chance to meet Jenni and her husband Charles from Jeni's ice cream in Columbus. Her brother who is also in the business was there as well. They were very nice and we had lots to talk about. I love Jeni's ice cream and respect what she does in a big way. I have been eating her creations for some time now and have always loved her combinations.
Madisono's is starting at the Bean House in Covington on Tuesday. They will offer pints and pre scooped cups for eating on site. The end of October marked my one year with Bigg's and we are pleased at the response so far. I hope to have our products in the Colrain store in the next week or so. Thanks for all of your support over the last few years. We would not be here if it was not fro all of you guys.
Thanks
Matt